…washing away dust and gobbledygook

From a doozy back to Tizzy Bac: 淺色的那條 – That Pale Pair

Have spent the past month dealing with an old back problem and pain. I know this old nemesis well and the ways and means required to beat it back and heal my back. If past experience from ten years ago is any guide, the road to recovery will be a slow and painful one…

While spending time flat out on my back resting, and in an effort to not become over-dependent on painkillers+muscle relaxants for the pain, I have been trying some ‘alternative’ remedies for pain relief: listening to some of my favourite music.
And one band and it’s music has proved to be particularly soothing for my doozy back, the Taiwanese alternative-rock band, Tizzy Bac.

Introduction:
Tizzy Bac was composed of college literature students in Taiwan in December 1999. At first, the trio was only curious about how far a band without guitars could reach, and then, in April 2000, they played their first gig in the “Spring Screen” festival. Following their debut, which drew much attention, they were awarded the No.1 prize in the 2002 Hohaiyan Rock Festival, the biggest battle of bands competition in Taiwan at that time.
…Different from an ordinary band, Tizzy Bac has no guitarist. All guitar effects such as distortion/overdrive are made by bass. Piano/keyboard is the mainstream of their arrangements, and thus they are well known as a “piano rock” band.

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Tizzy Bac has been a secret addiction of mine for some time now.
A piano rock-minus guitar band, setting a self-imposed limitation (or perhaps a liberation?), with its very unique experimental sounds, and by a bunch of literature students. Sounds deliciously promising…

And on towards the titled song of this post: 淺色的那條 – That Pale Pair.
The seemingly light lyrics and main melody is a veil behind which is a complex and multi-layered song.
I think this song showcases Tizzy Bac’s range of musical creativity best… so many elements, twists and turns…

如果能有一天
你和我又在街角重相见
would you say miss me?
oh would you miss me?
but I did!
这次我仍然没有逃避 睁开眼
但我离开之后
我离开之后
又一遍 你说你真的舍不得从前
and you say you love me,
you really love me,
but for what?
这次我没有沈迷
咬牙忍住泪
但我离开之后
最难的路才真要开始走

…

That Pale Pair

You’ve said it once again
You don’t really want to end all theseand you say you’re sorry,
you’re really sorry,
but I’m not!
This time I’m not running away
Determined to open my eyes
But only after I leave
Will the hardest journey really begin

I know – Useless to say more
I cannot change this reality
Change you or me
I also know – I cannot take any more
Any tiny little dent
To my faith
ok, All the fault is mine
I just want to take back that jacket
ok, I can give it up
But the jeans? That pale pair?

Facing(welcoming) the wind – Smiling while praying
Head askew – Let the tears flow with the wind
Slow motion – Running wildly without end
I oh – Not at fault – No expectations – And will feel no pain

You’ve said it once again
You don’t really want to end all theseand you say you’re sorry,
you’re really sorry,
but I’m not!
This time I’m not running away
Determined to open my eyes
But only after I leave
after I leave…
Ya…

I know – Love and hate will always be entangled
When time has stilled and settled everything
Only good shall remain
I also know – You are the kindest one
But maybe it really takes some distance
To see thatok, All the fault is mine
I just want to take with me that white cat
ok, I can give it up
But the jeans? That pale pair?

[Bridge]:
I don’t wish to ask just where heaven is
oh – Mama I just want to hide in your arms – oh yeah
I don’t wish to hear the truths that make the world spin
oh – Mama I just want to hide in your arms
Take me back again to those old familiar childhood scenes – Bicycle!
Mama I just want to hide in your arms – oh yeah
Sweet lullaby
And also double-coloured ice-cream
oh – Mama I just want to hide in your arms

Facing(welcoming) the wind – Smiling while praying
Head askew – Let the tears flow with the wind
Slow motion – Running wildly without end
I oh – Not at fault – No expectations – And will feel no pain

If there comes a day
When you and I meet again in the streetswould you say you miss me?
oh would you miss me?
but I did!
This time I’m still not running away – Open my eyes
But only after I leave
After I leave…
One more time – You say you really miss the old timesand you say you love me,
you really love me,
but for what?
This time I am not hopelessly obsessed
Gritting my teeth and holding back tearsBut only after I leave
Then will the first steps begin on the hardest journey

I love how the song ends the same way it begins, on the same notes… but played totally differently, in a completely different frame of mind and emotion:
(The song starts with an airy intro of the light tinkle of piano, and ends with the piano notes now being banged out unwillingly and crabbily, to the gnashing of the gritty-steeled heavy bass, and joined in the crescendo finish with the foul-tempered crashing drums — a pissed and sulking stomping off… )

“但我离开之后
最难的路才真要开始走

But only after I leave
Then will the first steps begin on the hardest journey”